Extension step-ladder



To all whom t nmy concern:

/ der.

y Unirse 'STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HIFAM SWARTZ, OF VVOOSTER, OHIO.

EXTENSION STEP- LADDE R.

SPECIFECATEQN forming part of Letters Patent No. 349,286, datedSeptember 14, 1886.

Application filed September Q1, [885. Serial No. 177.771.

Be itknown that I, HIRAM B. SwARTZ,a citizen'of the United States,residing. at Vooster, in the county of'Vayneand State of Ohio, haveinvented a new and useful Extension Step- Ladder, of which the followingis a specification.

ders.

Its objects are, first, to provide an improved method of hingingtogether the two sections of the ladder,whereby a folding platform ismade to rest upon the ends of the standard extended above the pivot inthe form of an. X when. used as a step-ladder, to constitute a platformtherefor and secure the same from spreading apart, said folding platformalso adapted to receive the strain at the center ofthe ladder when thesections are extended into a straight ladder and secure the same firmlyin extended position. I accomplish these obj ects by the devicesillustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which#- 'Figure l is aperspective view of my improved step-ladder. Fig. 2 is a view ofthe samefolded. Fig. 3 is a view of the same extended into a straight ladder;Fig. 4 is an enlarged view of one end of the steps. Fig. 5 is anenlarged detail view of one of my platform-hinges.

Referring to the drawings, R T are the front and rear standards,respectively, of the step-lada are the series of fr ont steps forthesame, and b are the series of rounds att-ached to the rear standards.The standards B T vare pivotcd together at c a short distance from theirupper ends respectively, so as to form the extended portions A B beyondthe pivot c.

P is the step -ladder platform. It is hinged at each end and near itsrear longitudinal edge by hinges 7L Vupon the extensions A of the frontstandards,as shown, Fig. 5, and when used as a step-ladder it extendsforward horizontally and rests at each eild and near its frontlongitudinal edge upon the extensions B of the rear stainlards, asshown, Fig. 1, forming a platform for the step-ladder.

F is a downwardly-projecting hook attached to one or both ends of theplatform P. This hook catches automatically upon the pin e, projectingfrom the standards, and thus secures the 5o standards from spreadingapart.

It is apparent the step-ladder may, at will,

My invention relates to extension step-lad 'in extended position,asshown, Fig. 3.

(No model.)

be folded together, as shown, Fig. 2. In such case the platform falls tothe position shown at P', the supportingrear standards winging to theposition shown at B.

When desired, the rearstamlards, T, maybe thrown outwardly on ali newith theirontstaml ards, as shown,T2. This is accomplished byele` vatingthe platform P at its front edge, so that the hook F will pass over thepin e. As the standards are spread apart the hinged platform fallsautomatically upon its hinges i nto line with thestandards, as shown,P2. Fig. 8, and thereby constitutes one ofthe series of steps of theextended ladder.

E is a swinging stop pivoted upon the rear standards, T, in position tofall behind and engage the hook F when the rear standards are extendedinto line with the front standards, as aforesaid, thereby holding theladder securely By elevating the outer end ofthe swinging stop E, andthereby disengagin g the hook F, the l adder may be folded together orconverted into a step -l adder, as aforesaid, .the extensions rB2 oftherear standards in such case elevating the front part of the platform P2automatically into the position desired for use.

I am aware that ladders hinged in two sections held by a fasteningdevice and having a folding platform are not new, and such I do notclaim, broadly.

Heretofore extension-ladders pivoted together in two sections have beenprovided with a platform located below the pivots ofthe sections, so asto rest upon the opposite cross-rounds of the sections, respectively,and the fastening devices in such ladders havebeen also located be lowt-he pivots. Such construction is defective because the platform is notupon the summit of the ladder when used as a step-ladder. The

platform also in such case is not in the proper ICG in the series, andextending the upper ends of

